Sheriffs around Ohio issued slightly fewer concealed carry licenses in 2021 compared to 2020, although numbers were up in Williams County. Ohio Attorney General, Dave Yost released his department’s annual concealed carry licensing report, which shows that sheriffs issued 94,298 new licenses in 2021, a slight dip from the 98,892 issued in 2020. The record high was 117,953 in 2016. At the same time…the number of license renewals increased by 50%, to a new record high of 108,622…that’s up from 72,340 renewals in 2020. Here in Williams County?…a new record for the second straight year…with 965 regular licenses issued in 2021…up from 833, in 2020. The county led northwest Ohio in concealed carry new permits issued last year, outpacing Fulton…Henry…Defiance…and Paulding counties…by a pretty wide margin. The report was released as a new state bill that would make concealed weapons permits optional was sent to Gov., DeWine’s desk.